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USAA, a diversified financial services organization, is the leading provider of competitively priced financial planning, insurance, investments, and banking products to members of the U.S. military and their eligible families. Rated among the highest among financial services companies for customer advocacy in a Forrester Research survey, USAA provides convenient and accessible financial products to its more than 9 million members. For more information about USAA, or to learn more about membership, visit usaa.com

Army-Navy Game: A Rivalry That Almost Wasn't

What has become revered as "America's Game" got off to a rough start that nearly ended the contest before it became legendary.

Who doesn't love a good football rivalry? It has drama. It has passion. It has last-second scores and mind-numbing blowouts.

And it has history. Lots of it.

USC-Notre Dame, Michigan-Ohio State, Stanford-Cal, Georgia-Florida, Oklahoma-Texas and Auburn-Alabama all have tales of bitter rivalries and devoted fans who take winning seriously. But none of these esteemed schools were ever ordered by our nation's leaders to cease playing because of a near duel between high-ranking officials.

Only Army-Navy carries that kind of history.

And, while there is no longer a threat of armed conflict between the academies, make no mistake: The midshipmen and cadets are prepared for a gridiron battle and bragging rights that last a lifetime when they meet for the 113th time, this year in Philadelphia (Dec. 8, CBS, 3 p.m. EST).

An Argument That Made History

But one of college football's most storied rivalries almost wasn't.

It all started back in 1890 when Cadet Dennis Mahan Michie and his newly formed Army football team agreed to play the Naval Academy. The experienced Navy team had been going strong for more than a decade when the two academies met for the first time on the gridiron at West Point on Nov. 29, 1890.

They played one other game before the fateful third contest in 1893, when Navy beat Army 6-4 at Annapolis.

The emotional climax led to a reputed dust-up between a Navy rear admiral and an Army brigadier general. That near-duel prompted President Grover Cleveland to call a Cabinet meeting in late February 1894. That discussion ended with the Secretary of the Navy Hillary A. Herbert and Secretary of War Daniel S. Lamont issuing orders to prohibit the Army and Navy teams from "engaging in games elsewhere."

In other words, Army and Navy were restricted to home games and, consequently, from playing each other. The ban lasted five years, the longest interruption in the game's history.

You Can't Keep a Good Rivalry Down

Fast forward to 1899. With the moratorium lifted, Philadelphia emerged as the neutral locale for the Army-Navy Game, and the rivalry began anew. Since then, the game has been played at Franklin Field, Municipal Stadium (later JFK Stadium), Veterans Stadium and Lincoln Financial Field. Philadelphia continues to be the primary host and the home of what has become known as "America's Game."

Few football contests call to mind the pomp and circumstance of the Army-Navy matchup. From the March On and the pregame cadet-midshipmen exchange to the tradition of the commander-in-chief changing sides at halftime, the game is a great display of ceremonial grandeur and rich, military tradition.

Whether you take sides or watch for the sheer excitement of the game, you're sure to feel the shared sense of fervor and patriotism as fans shout throughout the stadium: "Beat Navy!" and "Beat Army!"

A USAA member and three guests have the opportunity to experience the game and all its fanfare by becoming part of USAA's 1st and Goal Sweepstakes. To participate, all you have to do is use the Emergency Fund Savings Goal or the Retirement Planner by Nov. 9. You'll be automatically entered to win the grand prize:

A trip for four to the Dec. 8, 2012, Army-Navy game.

Tickets to the Army-Navy Game Gala on Dec. 7, 2012.

An exclusive field tour.

$5,000 spending money.

Army-Navy game merchandise.

A free financial plan -- a $1,500 value.

Why are we doing this? Well, just as the Army-Navy football players have to plan and prepare for their annual game, you, too, need to plan and prepare for a different type of game -- the game of life. And that means doing something that isn't as fun as watching a football game: saving money for retirement or for the proverbial rainy day. So, we've tried to make it easier for you with these online tools. Check them out and, in the process, you just might end up a winner on both fronts.

NO PURCHASE OR COMPLETION OF ONLINE FINANCIAL TOOL IS NECESSARY. NEITHER A PURCHASE NOR COMPLETION OF THE TOOL WILL INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. Following is a summary of the complete Official Rules, available at usaa.com/win.